45 
obtained, which were all that was possible from the quantity 
of water at command, were as follows : 
Total Solid Matter. .42-00 grains per gallon (consisting of) 
Mineral Matter 22*40 „ and 
Volatile Matter 19-60 „ 
Total Hardness 12*30 ,, 
Magnesia Hardness.. 1*70 „ 
Chlorine 4*50 ,, 
The residue on heating blackened very much, and emitted 
a very strong unpleasant odour like burning animal matter. 
The peculiarity of this water is of course the production 
of sulphuretted hydrogen, on standing for some time (in this 
case for five months) out of contact with the atmosphere. 
On leaving a small portion of the water in the bottle again 
corked up for some time the presence of sulphuretted hydro- 
gen was not exhibited. This production of sulphuretted 
hydrogen proceeds undoubtedly from the reduction of the 
sulphates contained in the water by the excess of organic 
matter, and it is not unique in this instance, although it is 
not a fact of very common occurrence. I regret very much 
not having been able to bring back a sample large enough 
to admit of a determination of the albumenoid ammonia, 
and the nitrates and nitrites, as the quantity of these sub- 
stances in a water of such a description would have been a 
very interesting item in the case, as touching on a point of 
great importance in pronouncing an opinion on the quality 
of a water. It is very possible and even probable that some 
chemists, given to judging for and against a water chiefly by 
indications of a single description, to the comparative neglect 
of many other analytical results, say by the amount of 
albumenoid ammonia, might actually fail to condemn a water 
such as the above ; for many chemists appear to consider 
the ignition of the solid residue a comparatively unnecessary 
detail ; and supposing even that the nitrates had been deter- 
mined in this water, there are eminent chemists who have 
